Inside Australia’s Historic ISDE Win

Don Atkins has attended 20 ISDEs. He’s been an integral part of Australia’s management team since 1998, and Team Manager since 2011. So, what did Don make of the controversy that went down at the Slovakian ISDE a couple of months back? For the 14-page ISDE article that appears in Transmoto’s Nov-Dec (#53) issue (which is available here), we asked Don to help put Australia’s stellar performance – and the event’s officiating – into clearer perspective for us.

And now that the FIM has finally announced that justice has prevailed – meaning Team Australia’s Senior World Trophy squad (consisting of Daniel Milner, Matt Phillips, Josh Green, Glenn Kearney, Beau Ralston and Lachy Stanford) has officially won the 2015 edition of the ISDE – we thought it would be good to reflect on Don’s insights into the Slovakian event while the FIM’s decision still hung in the balance.

Transmoto: What does the whole shemozzle boil down to in your mind, Don?
Don: If a rider wants to race a motorcycle discipline where he or she is only judged on being the fastest, then there are other disciplines designed for them. If the rider wants to demonstrate they’re a more complete package, then they’ll race enduro. And an absolutely fundamental part of enduro is following the course. Having every rider complete the same course is the central objective that organisers of any enduro event work to achieve. I’m not saying those eight riders intended to do anything wrong in Slovakia, but they did. And the rulebook has very specific penalties for that – disqualification.

How does the current situation – where the decision has gone above the event’s Jury and is now being played out between legal teams from the FIM and the French federation – sit with you?
Not at all well. I find it interesting that, prior to the event, there’s all this talk between the countries of there being “gentleman’s agreements” with things such as helpers being allowed to hand bumbags over to riders at tests, but not putting extra parts or tools in those bumbags. The next thing you know, we’ve got lawyers at 20 paces. I understand that the process is there to allow for that. But it remains very unusual that things escalated so quickly. One minute, it’s all about doing things for the good of the sport; the next, the results are being determined by courts of law. My understanding is that the FIM’s International Disciplinary Court should have a decision by October 23, but it appears unlikely that that timeframe will be adhered to. And until that decision is made, there is absolutely nothing that we or Motorcycling Australia can do.

In the 20 years you’ve been involved with ISDEs, have you even seen anything like this before?
No, never. Not that I’ve been aware of, anyway. I’ve seen final motocross races stopped and punch-ups between riders and officials, but nothing like this. I wasn’t aware that this sport resorted to those extremes to sort out their problems. I believe the Jury’s President threatened to resign over the way this was dealt with by the FIM, so that’ll give you a feel for how unusual these circumstances were. I am bitterly disappointed about the direction the sport has been taken.

“If I’m to continue believing in enduro and everything it stands for, the French federation’s appeal must be rejected by the FIM and this win handed to Australia.” – Don Atkins

If it’s any consolation, it seemed as if an Australian win had the unanimous support of all other countries, and that even the FIM officials on the ground were speaking to the Australian team as rightful winners.
Yes, there was an amazing amount of support for the Australian World Trophy team after the French team was reinstated in the results. That support came from a range of countries and officials. That’s nice, but it’s not a consolation.

There are certainly lots of positives to take out of Slovakia, though.
Absolutely. And it’s very unfortunate that this preoccupation with the protest and appeal process has taken attention away from the fact that our Women’s and Junior Trophy teams both won the event, and that Australian riders put in some sensational individual performances. I know of many long-time Australian enduro aficionados who have welled up with emotion about this incredible achievement. And rightly so. Many also made reference to the late John Hall, who took Australia’s first ever ISDE team to Czechoslovakia in 1977. In 2012, the French won the World, Junior and Women’s Trophy Teams – the only time that has been done. If the decision goes in our favour, not only would we match that 2012 French result, we’d take it one step further because we also won a fourth trophy – the Watling Trophy – this year, which is awarded to the most improved nation. I believe four trophies at one event would be unprecedented. It’d be a fitting tribute for the dedication shown by many people – riders and supporters – in the Australian off-road scene for years.

What are the odds of Australia being belatedly announced as winners of the World Trophy Team?
I honestly couldn’t say. But if I’m to continue believing in enduro and everything it stands for – and this sport has been a huge part of my life – then the French federation’s appeal must be rejected by the FIM and this win handed to Australia. I think that, for the good of the sport, you can’t ignore the rules to that degree. And to some extent, the future of the sport depends on the right decision being made here. Otherwise, it could establish a damaging precedent.